Combination sealing and dispensing device



.une 14, 1966 l. A. SPEELMAN 3,255,873

COMBNATION SEALING AND DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Oct. ll, 1963 /l/ y lIEAL'nLn/ IRVING A. SPEELMAN United States Patent O 3,255,873COMBINATION SEALIN G AND DISPENSING DEVICE Irving A. Speelman, Brooklyn,N.Y., assignor to Propper Manufacturing Company, Inc., Long Island City,NSY., a corporation of New York Filed'Oct. 11, 1963, Ser. No. 315,512 7Claims. (Cl. 20d-56) The present invention relates Igenerally todisposable hypodermic needle units and more particularly to a device forconnecting and sealing `a number of said units to :form 'an assembly.

At present, hypodermic needles which are used in the medical iield andwhich are sold to hospitals or similar institutions are usually sold in.bags of about 500. Each needle is encased within a respective containerand the needle `and container together form a disposable hypodermicneedle unit. The container comprises a cap which is usually sealed to alower portion. When the hypodermic needles are to be used, the units arecounted out on a per ward or per floor basis and are then dispensed tothe person in charge of the respective ward or oor. It is thereforeapparent that such a procedure is extremely time consuming (i.e., laperson is required to count out the individual number of units destinedfor the particular 'Ward or floor). Moreover, it has been found inpractice that the cap portion of a particular unit can very easily beseparated from the respective lower portion before the needle and thecontainer reach 4their destination. Once the cap portion and the lowerportion of the -container separate the sterility lof the needle wtihinthe container is destroyed since the needle .becomes exposed to thehospital pathogens. Thus, the hypodermic needle is rendered uselessunless it can be resterilized at a later time.

lIt -is a primary object of the present invention to facilitate thehandling'of disposable hypodermic needle units.

It is a further object of the present invention to insure .the sterilityof the hypodermic needles in disposable hypodermic needle containersuntil such time 'as they are to be used.

In accord-ance rwith the above objects, a preferred ernbodiment of thepresent invention comprises a tape having a heat lsensitive `adhesiveapplied to a number of disposable hypodermic needle units to form adisposable hypodermic needle assembly. It is to be understood that theindividual units 'are of the type having a lower portion which receivesthe hypodermic needle. The` unit-s may further include a shoulderlocated below the open end of the lower portion and projecting outwardlyperpendicularly from the lower portion. A cap is slidably received onthe lower portion and covers the open end with the lip of the capabutting the upper surface of the shoulder; the diameter of the outersurface of the lip being approximately equal to the diameter of theouter surface of the shoulder. A predetermined number of such units arespaced from each other and the tape connects said predetermined number;ythe tape contacts and seals each unit at-.the junction of the cap andthe shoulder.

A number of such assemblies may be combined `in a single package. Thus,when the units 'are dispensed, all one need do is to count off therequisite number of assemblies, each comprising the same amount ofunits, thereby greatly facilitating .the dispensing of the individualunits. Moreover, since the .tape is connected to the junction of the capand shoulder, the cap 1will be maintained in place until the seal isbroken. Thus, the lsterility of the needle will be insured at 'all timessince the cap cannot fall off. Additionally, since a heat sensi-tiveadhesive is from an assembly (thereby making it susceptible to the ICCdisadvantages noted hereinabove) because a predetermined amount of`force is needed to separate a unit from the assembly proper.

'It is a feature of the present invention to provide disposablehypodermic needle assemblies comprising a numlberv of disposablehypodermic yneedle units connected in spaced relation to one another.

It is a further `feature of the present invention to provide disposablehypodermic needle assemblies comprising a number of disposablehypodermic needle units wherein the device which connects the units, asnoted in the preceding para-graph, also seals .the cap of a particularunit to the lower portion of the particular unit.

The above and other features of the present invention will 'become moreapparent from la consideration of the following detailed description inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a plurality of disposablehypodermic needle units connected and sealed together by the device ofthe present invention to form 'an assembly with =a portion of one of theunits cut away;` lFlG. 2 isv a horizontal sectional view of a disposablehypodermic needle unit;

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are vertical sectional views diagrammaticallyillustrating the method of applying the connecting and sealing device ofthe present invention to the units.

The present invention is adapted for luse with disposable hypodermicneedle units such las the unit 11, illustrated in FIG. 2. The unit 11comprises a lower tubular portion V1t) and an upper cap portion 18.Portion `10 has an inner axial bore `19 and an axial bore 20, thediameter of which is slightly larger than the diameter of bore 19,extending downwardly perpendicularly from the open upper end of portion10 fora predetermined distance. Bore and bore 19 define an annular-shelf 2l .in lower portion, 10. A transverse bottom wall 22 seals thebottom end of portion 10. An annular shoulder 23, spaced from the :topof portion 10, projects `outwardly perpendicularly [from the outersurface of portion 10.

A hypodermic needle is received wi-thin the hollow interior of portion10. The needle comprises a canula 24 lwhich is cut to form a penetratingpoint 25 in a manner well known in the ant. The canula 24 extends into ahub 26 at the upper end thereof. Hub 26 is integral with a head portion27. The lower surface of head 27 abuts annular shelf `21 to limit theextent of the insertion of canula 24 `into portion 10. Thus, point 25will be spaced from twfall 22. An extension 27a of head 27 extends pastxthe top of portion 17 and is adapted to receive a hypodermic syringewithin a cavity (not shown) in extension 27a -in a conventional Luerlook fitting.

The cap 18 contains an inner bore 28, having a diameter which isapproximately equal to the diameter of the outer surface of portion 10above shoulder 23, so cap 18 may slidably be received thereon in afriction fitting. Axial bore 28 extends a sufficient distance so topportion 27a of the hypodermic needle may be received therein. Thediameter of the outer surface of cap 18 is approximately equal to thediameter of the outer su-rface of shoulder 23. Thus, the cap is slidablyreceived on portion 10 with the lower lip of cap 18 abutting the uppersurface of shoulder 23 and the outer surface of cap 18- and the outersurface of shoulder 23 being coplanar. It is to be emphasized that theunit above described is by way of example only as the present inventioncan be utilized with any type of unit having a removable cap.

A number of these units 11 through 15 (FIG. l), are longitudinallyspaced from one another with their axes lying in parallel planes. It isto be noted that in the preferred embodiment five of such units will beconnected together. However, this quantity is by way of illustrationonly and not to be interpreted as a limitation of the present invention.In accordance with present invention a tape 17 (which may be composed ofcellophane), having a heat sensitive adhesive on the back thereof(although any type of adhesive may be utilized),is placed across theunits 11 through 15 so the tape will be in contact with each unit at thejunction formed by the lower lip of cap 18 and the upper surface ofshoulder 23 (FIGS. l and 2). Heat is then applied to the tape and theunits, as noted below, thereby causing the tape to adhere to the units.Thus, a disposable hypodermic needle assembly comprising ve of suchunits connected together and individually sealed by the same device, inaccordance with the present invention is thereby formed (FIG. 1).

The taping operation of the present invention may be performed in themanner diagrammatically illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. Thus, the uppersurface of a die 29 contains a plurality of semi-circular longitudinallyspaced indentations, 31 through 35, which are shaped to respectivelyreceive units 11 through 15 with the axes of the units lying in parallelvertical planes and in the same horizontal plane. The tape 17 having aheat sensitive adhesive on the back thereof as illustrated in FIG. 4, isplaced on these units by means (not shown) so the back of the tape is incontact with the junction formed by the lower lip [of cap4 18 and theupper surface of shoulder 23. A heating plate 36 has a plurality ofserially connected heating coils 37a-37i therein which are connected toa source of power (not lshown) by the leads 33a vand 33h. The heatingplate is placed over and contacts the surface of tape 17 and exerts apredetermined amount of pressure against the units. Plate 36 heats bothtape 17 and the individual-unit until the adhesive becomes tacky andadheres to the unit. Heating plate 36 is then removed and the units,which are now joined together by tape 17 to comprise a disposablehypodermic needle assembly wherein each unit is individually sealed, maybe allowed to cool and are then removed from the die.

A number of these assemblies may be combined to form a package. Thus,when the needles are to be dispensed, the assemblies of five units aretaken out of the package and routed to the various destinations by theattendant in charge. By joining a number of the units to form anassembly, the dispensing process is greatly facilitated. Moreover, it ist-o be noted that since the tape is specifically applied to the junctionof the cap and the shoulder, the tape serves the purpose of alsomaintaining the cap on lower portion 10, thereby insuring the sterilityof the hypodermie needle within the unit until such time as the tape isbroken and the cap is lremoved by the per-I son utilizing the hypodermicneedle. Additionally, since a heat sensitive tape is used, apredetermined amount of force is required to separate the unit from thetape, thereby eliminating the possibility of accidentally breaking theseal.

In accordance with the objects of the present invention, I have provideda means to both facilitate dispensing of disposable hypodermic needleunits and for maintaining the cap of the individual unit on the lowerportion of the unit until such time as the hypodermic needle is to beused.

Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has beendescribed, it will become apparent to those in the art thatmodifications may be made therein without departing from the scope ofthe invention.

What is claimed is:

1. The method of joining a plurality of disposable hypodermic needleunits of the type having a lower portion and a removable cap and sealingsaid cap to said lower portion, comprising the steps of longitudinallyspacing and aligning a predetermined plurality of hypodermic needleunits, placing a strip of tape having a heat sensitive adhesive acrosssaid plurality of units so said adhesive is in contact with the junctionof the cap and the lower portion of each of said plurality of units,heating said tape and said unit above room temperature until theadhesive on said tape becomes tacky and adheres to said units, and

rality of units are joined in spaced relation to each other by said tapeand the respective cap and lower portion of each of said plurality ofunits are sealed to each other by said tape.

2. The method of joining a plurality of disposable hyptodermic needleunits of the type having a lower portion and a removable cap and sealingsaid Cap to said lower portion, comprising the steps of longitudinallyspacing and aligning a predetermined plurality of hypodermic needleunits, placing a strip of tape having a heat sensitive adhesive acrosssaid plurality of units so said adhesive is in contact with the junctionof the cap and the lower portion of each of said units, applyingpressure to and heating said tape and said units until the adhesive onsaid tape becomes tacky and adheres to said units, and allowing saidtape and said units to cool, whereby said plurality of units are joinedinv spaced relation to each other by said tape and the respective capand lower portion of each of said plurality of units are sealed togetherby said tape.

3. The method of joining a plurality of disposable hypodermic needleunits, comprising the steps set forth in claim 2, wherein said units arealigned with their axes lying in parallel vertical planes and in thesame horizontal plane.

4. A plurality of disposable hypodermic needle units, each of said unitscomprising a lower portion containing a hypodermic needle therein and acap in slidable engagement with said lower portion, and a tapecontaining an adhesive thereon connecting said predetermined pluralityof units in spaced relation from each other and contacting and sealingeach unit at the junction of said cap and said lower portion, wherebysaid units may be dispensed as an assembly comprising said plurality ofunits wherein the respective cap and lower portion of each of saidplurality of units are sealed to each other.

5. A plurality of disposable hypodermic needle units, each of said unitscomprising a lower portion having an open upper end and containing ahypodermic needle therein, each of said units further comprising aremovable cap lin slidable engagement with said lower portion forcovering said open upper end, a tape having a heat sensitive adhesive onthe back thereof connecting said plurality of units in spaced relationfrom each other with said adhesive contacting and sealing the junctionof said cap and said lower portion of each of said plurality of units,whereby said plurality of units may be dispensed as an assemblycomprising said plurality of units wherein the respective cap and lowerportion of each of said plurality of units are sealed to each other.

6. A predetermined plurality of disposable hypodermic needle units, eachof said units comprising a lower portion having an open upper end andcontaining a hypoderrnic needle therein, each of said lower portionshaving an outwardly perpendicularly projecting shoulder spaced from saidupper end, and a cap sized and adapted to be slidably mounted on saidlower' portion to cover the open upper end with the lower lip of saidcap abutting the upper surface of said shoulder, and a tape having aheat sensitive adhesive thereon joining said plurality of units inspaced relation from each other, said adhesive contacting and sealingeach of said plurality of units at the junction formed by the lower lipof the cap and 4the upper surface of the shoulder, whereby said unitsmay be dispensed as an assembly comprising said predetermined pluralityof units wherein the respective cap and lower portion of each of saidunits are sealed to one another.

7. A predetermined plurality of disposable hypodermic needle units, eachof said units comprising a lower tubular portion having an open upperend and containing a hypodermic needle therein, each of said lowerportions having an outwardly perpendicularly projecting shoulder 5 6upper end with the lower lip of said cap abutting the up- ReferencesCited by the Examiner per surface yof said shoulder, and a cellophanetape having a heat sensitive adhesive `on the back thereof joining saidUNITED STATES PATENTS units in longitudinally spaced relation to eachother with 1,710,393 4/1929 Williams 206 .55 the axes of said tubularportions lying in parallel vertical 5 2,679,281 5 /1954 pau1ucci planes,said adhesive contacting and sealing said units at 3,114,455 12/1963Claisse et aL 206 56 the junction of said cap and said shoulder, wherebysaid units may be dispensed as an assembly comprising said THERON ECONDON Primary Examiner predetermined plurality of units with therespective cap and lower portion of each of said units being sealed to10 M. L. RICE, Assistant Examiner.

each other.

4. A PLURALITY OF DISPOSABLE HYPODERMIC NEEDLE UNITS, EACH OF SAID UNITSCOMPRISING A LOWER PORTION CONTAINING A HYPODERMIC NEEDLE THEREIN AND ACAP IN SLIDABLE ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID LOWER PORTION, AND A TAPECONTAINING AN ADHESIVE THEREON CONNECTING SAID PREDETERMINED PLURALITYOF UNITS IN SPACED RELATION FROM EACH OTHER AND CONTACTING SAID SEALINGEACH UNIT AT THE JUNCTION OF SAID